Warning: This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Paying tribute to the late Carrie Fisher, Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson made sure that Leia had her moments in The Force Awakens sequel. Not only did the filmmaker deliver a bittersweet reunion between Leia and her twin, Luke (Mark Hamill), Johnson also gave Leia a scene that fans have been hoping to see ever since the original trilogy.
Though Leia isn't a Jedi, the Resistance General has been known to be powerful with the Force. In The Empire Strikes back fans get to see her sense Luke's distress after the young Jedi nearly falls down a shaft in Bespin. After that, we don't get to see that much Force-action from Leia, until The Last Jedi that is.
In the sequel trilogy installment, Leia saves her own life, using the force to pull herself back to the Resistance cruiser after First Order TIE Fighters manage to soot at the bridge and kill all of the Resistance's leaders including Admiral Ackbar.
Speaking in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Johnson talks about how the epic Leia Force scene came to be, explaining that the birth of Leia's big moment in the film came from Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.
"She kept asking, ‘Leia's a Skywalker, Luke gave her this speech in Jedi and told her basically, ‘You have this potential, too.' It seemed to me it would be a really emotionally impactful thing to see her use it," the filmmaker explained.
The scene is remarkably exciting because it's the very first time fans get to see Leia's strength as a Force user.
"I liked the idea it would be an instinctual thing. This would be more like stories you hear about parents of toddlers who get caught under cars and they get Hulk strength and lift the car up," Johnson went on. "It would be something in these final moments to show that she's not done with the fight. And like a drowning person pulling herself back, that's how it manifests itself for the first time in her."
It's a fitting scene that also works as a tribute to Carrie. The Star Wars legend has always been a fighter, fighting for women and for mental health all throughout her life.
We can't wait to see how Episode IX will continue her story.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is currently screening in cinemas.
Read: Rian Johnson On Why Star Wars: The Last Jedi Is Luke's Movie
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